The death of Chief of Defence Forces General Francis Ogolla and nine other top officers and service personnel in a helicopter crash marked yet another sad milestone in troubled North Rift Valley.
They were involved in the ongoing multi-agency operation in North Rift under Operation Maliza Uhalifu when their chopper crashed on Thursday afternoon in Elgeyo Marakwet on the border with West Pokot. They were on an inspection tour.
It was just lifting off after they had visited Cheptulel Boys’ Secondary School in West Pokot county.
Reopening and rehabilitating schools is part of the efforts to normalise life after a suppression of banditry and cattle rustling.
The military chopper lost power but the cause has not been established.
Investigations are underway into the aircraft’s maintenance history, wind conditions and other factors.
The deaths of the 10 victims was a huge blow and another tragedy linked to the crisis in North Rift, officials said, adding it had destabilised plans that had been put in place.
“It sends a bad signal to those on the ground but we hope for the best,” an official, who askednot to be named, said.
More than 100 people have been killed by bandits in North Rift. The victims included security officials, teachers and school children.
Due to a multi-agency team and ongoing operations, the outlaws were suppressed for a while.
The crisis does not seem to be going away for now, amid blame games.
Officials say there is a lack of goodwill from some parties locally and nationally and a lack of resources to enhance the operation.
Better equipment has been promised. Politicians have been blamed for fanning some of the violence.
The area is still volatile, with bandits roaming and causing havoc for residents, their animals and resources.
Many schools have been closed and families displaced.
Following the crash, some residents started to evacuate in fear of possible operations.
The military joined security operations to address the banditry menace and have been trying to eliminate the gunmen.
Gen Ogolla is the senior most security official to die in such circumstances.
The dead included Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keitany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Major George Benson Magondu, Captain Sora Mohamed, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua Mureithi, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi, and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.
The CDF, onboard the Kenya Air Force Huey Helicopter, had left Nairobi Thursday morning, to visit troops deployed in the North Rift.
He was also going to inspect renovations at Chesitet Primary School, Cheptulel Boys’ High School, Chepoton Primary School, Ksaa Primary School and Sablimoi Primary School.
President William Ruto said the CDF had been briefed on the security situation by a multi-agency team stationed at Chesitet in Baringo county.
He then proceeded to the Kainuk Forward Operating Base in Turkana county, where he addressed troops, commending them for their resilience and operational successes.
The CDF and his entourage departed from Kainuk to Chesegon, West Pokot county, where he launched the rehabilitation of Cheptulel Boys’ High School. He then departed for the Recruits Training School in Uasin Gishu county, where he was scheduled to inspect construction facilities at the institution.
“Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed shortly after take-off. This is a moment of great sadness for myself, as the Commander in Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Kenya Defence Forces fraternity and the nation at large. Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and woman,” Ruto said.
The insecurity in the region has also led to the displacement of more than 3,000 people, undermining development activities, MPs said last month.
The group of MPs made the revelations when they appeared before the National Assembly Committee of Cohesion.
“We have buried 74 people, including an elected MCA, who were killed by the bandits,” Naisula Lesuuda, the Samburu West MP said.
The MP pointed out that scores of others have been left with life-long and life-threatening injuries as she questioned government’s seriousness in fighting insecurity.
The MPs from banditry-prone areas in Rift Valley also faulted the government’s approach to taming the crimes, saying the approach may not succeed as is it outdated.
They also complained they are not being involved in the meetings and tours by senior security personnel.
The MPs said the resurgence of banditry and cattle rustling despite government’s efforts indicated the tactic was bound to fail.
The MPs were giving their views on how to permanently eliminate banditry and cattle rustling to the House Committee during a session chaired by Yussuf Haji at Parliament Buildings.
He said criminal activities were a threat to cohesion and peaceful existence among the communities, hence, the need for the meeting with area leaders on how to stamp out the problem.
But the MPs poured out their frustration to the committee and said the government was handling campaigns to make the region a banditry-free area. It has been using new tactics, new equipment, drones, more personnel and encouraging people to take up farming instead of keeping livestock.
President Ruto has been warning and promising they will address the menace.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has been leading the operations in the area.
Kindiki said cattle rustling in Northern Kenya has become an organised criminal enterprise responsible for deaths, poverty and displacement.
“Its impacts are severe. It deprives pastoral communities of their economic mainstay and aggravates the conditions of poverty in the rangelands, fuelling communal grievances and revenge attacks,” he said.
